Muriel Bowser - Greater Greater WashingtonPosts with the tag Muriel Bowser.http://greatergreaterwashington.org/tag/Muriel+Bowser/
en-usBowser meets Trumphttp://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/34383/bowser-meets-trump/
by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/ncacozza/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Nicole Cacozza</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">In a <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/trump-a-dc-supporter-mayor-says-after-meeting-with-president-elect/2016/12/06/eb7b9cb4-bbd0-11e6-91ee-1adddfe36cbe_story.html?utm_term=.b1181c9e1ada', '34383')" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/trump-a-dc-supporter-mayor-says-after-meeting-with-president-elect/2016/12/06/eb7b9cb4-bbd0-11e6-91ee-1adddfe36cbe_story.html?utm_term=.b1181c9e1ada" style="color: black">private meeting</a>, President-elect Trump and Mayor Bowser discussed Metro, local education, and the city's uniquely complicated relationship with the federal government. The mayor said Trump is a supporter of the District. (Post)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/34383/bowser-meets-trump/#comments">Comment</a></p>http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=34383Wed, 07 Dec 2016 09:15:00 EDTBowser meeting with Trump todayhttp://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/34375/bowser-meeting-with-trump-today/
by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/amitchell/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Arego Mitchell</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Mayor Bowser <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-mayor-bowser-to-meet-with-trump-in-nyc-on-tuesday/2016/12/05/7ae53a66-bb01-11e6-91ee-1adddfe36cbe_story.html?hpid=hp_rhp-breaking-news-bar_no-name%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.c834c77e87b6', '34375')" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-mayor-bowser-to-meet-with-trump-in-nyc-on-tuesday/2016/12/05/7ae53a66-bb01-11e6-91ee-1adddfe36cbe_story.html?hpid=hp_rhp-breaking-news-bar_no-name%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.c834c77e87b6" style="color: black">will meet</a> with the President-elect <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('https://www.washingtonian.com/2016/12/05/muriel-bowser-donald-trump-meeting-new-york/', '34375')" href="https://www.washingtonian.com/2016/12/05/muriel-bowser-donald-trump-meeting-new-york/" style="color: black">today</a>. Possible agenda items include DC statehood, how Trump will impact federal workers, legal issues re: Trump's new hotel, or marijuana legalization. Some hope for common ground by way of infrastructure funding. (Post, Washingtonian)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/34375/bowser-meeting-with-trump-today/#comments">Comment</a></p>http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=34375Tue, 06 Dec 2016 09:00:00 EDTAre public spaces really public when not everybody can use them?http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/34339/are-public-spaces-really-public-when-not-everybody-can-use-them/
by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/karbuckle/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Kyle Arbuckle</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">All around DC there are structures designed for the public that aren't actually very pleasant or easy to use, like dog ears on ledges, third armrests through the middle of public benches, and ridges in common seating areas. These things are there for a reason, but do they actually limit people's ability to live in the environment around them?
<p style="margin-top: 1em"><div class="blog_image" style="width:500px; text-align: center; font-size: 8pt;"><a href="/image.cgi?src=201612/011544.jpg&ref=34339" style="color: black"><img src="http://images.greatergreaterwashington.org/images/201612/011544-1.jpg" style="border: 0"></a><br>All photos by the author.</div>
<p style="margin-top: 1em">In July, well-known radio producer Roman Mars invited authors Gordan Savicic and Selena Savic onto his podcast, <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://99percentinvisible.org/episode/unpleasant-design-hostile-urban-architecture/', '34339')" href="http://99percentinvisible.org/episode/unpleasant-design-hostile-urban-architecture/" style="color: black">99% invisible</a>. Savicic and Savic co-edited a book called Unpleasant Design, which looks at the idea that while some things are built with a purpose that might seem reasonable-- for example, third armrests on benches that keep people from sleeping on them and therefore giving more people space to sit-- accomplish a greater effect of shaping city environments and how citizens interact with them without those citizens' consent.
<p style="margin-top: 1em">There are examples in cities across the world. For example, <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://unpleasant.pravi.me/', '34339')" href="http://unpleasant.pravi.me/" style="color: black">in Europe</a>, some store owners deter teens from loitering out front by playing classical music or high-frequency sounds, or using pink lighting to make pimples on their face stand out (particularly cruel!).
<p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>Should our cities ban skateboarding? Should they ban homelessness?</b>
<p style="margin-top: 1em">In most instances, skateboarding is legal unless posted otherwise. But like many other cities, DC has incorporated "dog ears" to deter skaters from using public spaces. This is de facto prohibition, and even though it's subtle, it sends a clear message that skating is not particularly welcome.
<p style="margin-top: 1em">Many people would argue that skateboarding is one of this country's longstanding <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.wbur.org/artery/2016/06/21/fancy-lad-skateboarding', '34339')" href="http://www.wbur.org/artery/2016/06/21/fancy-lad-skateboarding" style="color: black">forms of expression</a>&mdash;<wbr>it makes space more inviting, and it gives people a reason to come and sit and look. If you value skateboarding as a way of <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://uproxx.com/life/dustin-valdez-stoked/', '34339')" href="http://uproxx.com/life/dustin-valdez-stoked/" style="color: black">breathing life into a city</a>, public design that bars people from doing it is problematic.
<p style="margin-top: 1em"><div class="blog_image" style="width:500px; text-align: center; font-size: 8pt;"><a href="/image.cgi?src=201612/011547.png&ref=34339" style="color: black"><img src="http://images.greatergreaterwashington.org/images/201612/011547-1.png" style="border: 0"></a><br>As you can see, this ledge restricts skating.</div>
<p style="margin-top: 1em">Beyond skateboarding, there are also designs that stop people from doing more basic, fundamental things. In fact, while DC is known for its expansive "public" spaces like the National Mall, Smithsonian Museums, and numerous parks and squares, some people might tell you that these places really aren't very public at all.
<p style="margin-top: 1em">DC <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/there-are-now-more-homeless-kids-and-parents-in-dc-than-single-adults-for-the-first-time/2016/05/11/d4d256c2-16f5-11e6-9e16-2e5a123aac62_story.html', '34339')" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/there-are-now-more-homeless-kids-and-parents-in-dc-than-single-adults-for-the-first-time/2016/05/11/d4d256c2-16f5-11e6-9e16-2e5a123aac62_story.html" style="color: black">has a homeless crisis</a>, with the homeless population having risen 30 percent in the last year. And while Mayor Muriel Bowser has stated that combating homelessness will be a staple of her tenure, those who are left out have to exist somewhere. More likely than not, the aforementioned public spaces make the most sense.
<p style="margin-top: 1em">But check out these public benches and how they keep people&mdash;<wbr>homeless or not&mdashl from comfortably and freely using them:
<p style="margin-top: 1em"><div class="blog_image" style="width:500px; text-align: center; font-size: 8pt;"><a href="/image.cgi?src=201612/011548.png&ref=34339" style="color: black"><img src="http://images.greatergreaterwashington.org/images/201612/011548-1.png" style="border: 0"></a><br>The two armrests on the end of the bench would only allow a very short person to lie down, but the third armrest through the middle makes it impossible for most.</div>
<p style="margin-top: 1em"><div class="blog_image" style="width:500px; text-align: center; font-size: 8pt;"><a href="/image.cgi?src=201612/011549.jpg&ref=34339" style="color: black"><img src="http://images.greatergreaterwashington.org/images/201612/011549-1.jpg" style="border: 0"></a><br>The ridges on this one aren't conducive to lying down and it is curved.</div>
<p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>Unpleasant design negates usable public space, which is the hallmark of a thriving city</b>
<p style="margin-top: 1em">To be fair, unpleasant design, as a whole, is well intentioned. The risk in any public space is that a few people acting out can make the space unusable to everybody.
<p style="margin-top: 1em">When it comes to the dog ears on ledges, skateboarding can damage property and possibly put people in harm's way, and lying down uses up more park bench space so fewer people can sit. In those ways, unpleasant design can make public space more inviting.
<p style="margin-top: 1em">But where is the line? Who decides what should be forbidden and what shouldn't? Why not tell someone that if they want to eat lunch, they need to go to a restaurant rather than sit and eat in the park? Or that if they want to read, they need to go to a library rather than sit and do it on a public bench?
<p style="margin-top: 1em">Skateboarding is an art form and <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/A:1010166007804', '34339')" href="http://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/A:1010166007804" style="color: black">organic culture in its own right</a>, and limiting skateboarders use of public space is counterintuitive to why public space exists&mdash;<wbr>to bring people together and allow cultures to thrive.
<p style="margin-top: 1em">And regarding the homeless, it is entirely unfair to restrict access to an individual who literally has nowhere else to go. It is especially unfair when design restricts access to the very harmless activity of lying down.
<p style="margin-top: 1em">So at what point does restricting human activity take the "public" out of public space? I'd say that it's when something gets built into the environment; at that point, it becomes non-negotiable. Laws can restrict activities, but you can protest and repeal those.
<p style="margin-top: 1em">We should be mindful of what we build, what effect it has, and on whom If you restrict people's ability to use public space too much, then nobody goes there at all. I would argue that if space is truly public, then people on skateboards or people without homes are as entitled to use it as anyone else.
<p style="margin-top: 1em"><p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/34339/are-public-spaces-really-public-when-not-everybody-can-use-them/#comments">60 comments</a></p>http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=34339Fri, 02 Dec 2016 11:38:00 EDTContract pressure?http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/34349/contract-pressure/
by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/jpierce/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Joanne Pierce</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">A former employee of DC's Department of General Services <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://wamu.org/story/16/12/01/fallout-d-c-agency-controversial-firings/', '34349')" href="http://wamu.org/story/16/12/01/fallout-d-c-agency-controversial-firings/" style="color: black">says he was fired</a> for refusing to award development contracts to one of Mayor Bowser's biggest donors, Fort Myer, a street paving company. (WAMU)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/34349/contract-pressure/#comments">Comment</a></p>http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=34349Fri, 02 Dec 2016 09:00:00 EDTShelter limitshttp://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/34315/shelter-limits/
by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/ncacozza/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Nicole Cacozza</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Mayor Bowser has proposed a bill to restrict the city's <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://wamu.org/news/16/11/29/bowser_seeks_to_make_it_harder_for_non_dc_residents_to_use_homeless_shelters', '34315')" href="http://wamu.org/news/16/11/29/bowser_seeks_to_make_it_harder_for_non_dc_residents_to_use_homeless_shelters" style="color: black">homeless services</a> to District residents and to stop offering emergency shelter space to those with other housing available, citing the huge cost to the city. (WAMU)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/34315/shelter-limits/#comments">Comment</a></p>http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=34315Wed, 30 Nov 2016 09:20:00 EDTDC's not into Metro's late night planhttp://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/34300/dcs-not-into-metros-late-night-plan/
by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/amitchell/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Arego Mitchell</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">The WMATA board is considering <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://wamu.org/news/16/11/28/dc_officials_metro_spar_over_proposal_to_trim_late_night_service_after_safetrack', '34300')" href="http://wamu.org/news/16/11/28/dc_officials_metro_spar_over_proposal_to_trim_late_night_service_after_safetrack" style="color: black">a plan to close Metro earlier on weekend nights</a> beginning July 2017. Although it surveyed the best of the post-SafeTrack maintenance plans put forward, Mayor Bowser says Metro isn't doing enough to accommodate riders who depend on it. (WAMU)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/34300/dcs-not-into-metros-late-night-plan/#comments">Comment</a></p>http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=34300Tue, 29 Nov 2016 08:30:00 EDTWhat is middle class, anywayhttp://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/34303/what-is-middle-class-anyway/
by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/amitchell/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Arego Mitchell</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Mayor Bowser is <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/food/article/20844823/mayor-bowser-talks-small-business-and-middle-class-at-the-shaw-bijou', '34303')" href="http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/food/article/20844823/mayor-bowser-talks-small-business-and-middle-class-at-the-shaw-bijou" style="color: black">catching flak</a> for celebrating Small Business Saturday at Shaw Bijou, where dinner for two can cost almost $1000. She discussed the importance of creating pathways to the middle class. (City Paper)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/34303/what-is-middle-class-anyway/#comments">Comment</a></p>http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=34303Tue, 29 Nov 2016 08:30:00 EDTNew DC school chancellorhttp://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/34277/new-dc-school-chancellor/
by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/jneeley/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Jonathan Neeley</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Oakland school superintendent Antwan Wilson will be <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/bowser-names-pick-for-next-dc-schools-chancellor-oakland-schools-chief-antwan-wilson/2016/11/22/3b3a04fe-b058-11e6-8616-52b15787add0_story.html', '34277')" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/bowser-names-pick-for-next-dc-schools-chancellor-oakland-schools-chief-antwan-wilson/2016/11/22/3b3a04fe-b058-11e6-8616-52b15787add0_story.html" style="color: black">DC's next school chancellor</a>. Though he isn't from DC, Mayor Bowser says she's confident Wilson will build on recent progress to close the achievement gap. (Post)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/34277/new-dc-school-chancellor/#comments">Comment</a></p>http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=34277Wed, 23 Nov 2016 09:05:00 EDTAnd...http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/34250/and/
by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em"><a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://dc.curbed.com/2016/11/15/13636668/anacostia-mlk-gateway', '34250')" href="http://dc.curbed.com/2016/11/15/13636668/anacostia-mlk-gateway" style="color: black">Check out plans</a> for a mixed-use development in Anacostia. (Curbed) ... Muriel Bowser <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/the-surprising-reason-why-immigration-activists-assailed-dc-mayor/2016/11/18/d300a914-ad06-11e6-a31b-4b6397e625d0_story.html', '34250')" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/the-surprising-reason-why-immigration-activists-assailed-dc-mayor/2016/11/18/d300a914-ad06-11e6-a31b-4b6397e625d0_story.html" style="color: black">may be more hesitant</a> than other mayors to confront Donald Trump's immigration rhetoric because DC depends more on federal funding. (Post) ... Copenhagen <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('https://www.fastcoexist.com/3065696/copenhagen-now-has-more-bike-use-than-car-use', '34250')" href="https://www.fastcoexist.com/3065696/copenhagen-now-has-more-bike-use-than-car-use" style="color: black">now has more bicycling</a> than driving (and maybe <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/33114/copenhagen-uses-this-one-trick-to-make-room-for-bikeways-on-nearly-every-street/', '34250')" href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/33114/copenhagen-uses-this-one-trick-to-make-room-for-bikeways-on-nearly-every-street/" style="color: black">this is why</a>). (Co.Exist)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/34250/and/#comments">Comment</a></p>http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=34250Mon, 21 Nov 2016 08:33:00 EDTStatehood stalledhttp://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/34149/statehood-stalled/
by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/klafferty/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Kelli Raboy</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">DC residents <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-mayor-concedes-statehood-effort-is-all-but-dead--for-now/2016/11/09/1d954796-a6a4-11e6-8042-f4d111c862d1_story.html', '34149')" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-mayor-concedes-statehood-effort-is-all-but-dead--for-now/2016/11/09/1d954796-a6a4-11e6-8042-f4d111c862d1_story.html" style="color: black">overwhelmingly voted to become a state</a> on Tuesday, but Mayor Bowser now says that's a dream that will have to wait as local leaders shift focus to anticipated attacks on city policies by an emboldened Congress. (Post)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/34149/statehood-stalled/#comments">Comment</a></p>http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=34149Thu, 10 Nov 2016 08:40:00 EDTThe cost of paid family leavehttp://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/34028/the-cost-of-paid-family-leave/
by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/jpierce/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Joanne Pierce</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">New DC Chamber of Commerce head Vincent Orange is pushing back hard on the DC Council's plan to <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/loose-lips/blog/20838776/dc-chamber-of-commerce-slams-paid-leave-proposal', '34028')" href="http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/loose-lips/blog/20838776/dc-chamber-of-commerce-slams-paid-leave-proposal" style="color: black">tax payrolls to finance paid family leave</a>. He says the current plan will hurt small businesses and create more government bureaucracy. (CityPaper)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/34028/the-cost-of-paid-family-leave/#comments">Comment</a></p>http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=34028Fri, 28 Oct 2016 08:50:00 EDTUnhappy familyhttp://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/33996/unhappy-family/
by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/ncacozza/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Nicole Cacozza</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson and Mayor Bowser <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/bowser-council-chair-spar-over-dc-paid-family-leave-what-is-the-secrecy/2016/10/25/15613068-9ad2-11e6-b3c9-f662adaa0048_story.html', '33996')" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/bowser-council-chair-spar-over-dc-paid-family-leave-what-is-the-secrecy/2016/10/25/15613068-9ad2-11e6-b3c9-f662adaa0048_story.html" style="color: black">are clashing</a> over a <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/28472/dcs-family-leave-bill-may-need-work-but-kneejerk-reactions-wont-make-it-better/', '33996')" href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/28472/dcs-family-leave-bill-may-need-work-but-kneejerk-reactions-wont-make-it-better/" style="color: black">family leave bill</a>, with Mendelson wanting to fund 3 months of paid leave with an employer tax and Bowser worrying that'd be bad for business. (Post)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/33996/unhappy-family/#comments">Comment</a></p>http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=33996Wed, 26 Oct 2016 09:06:00 EDTPeter Shapiro is nominated for a seat on the powerful DC Zoning Commissionhttp://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/33476/peter-shapiro-is-nominated-for-a-seat-on-the-powerful-dc-zoning-commission/
by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Mayor Muriel Bowser has <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.dcregs.dc.gov/Gateway/NoticeHome.aspx?noticeid=6254383', '33476')" href="http://www.dcregs.dc.gov/Gateway/NoticeHome.aspx?noticeid=6254383" style="color: black">nominated Peter Shapiro</a>, a resident of the Chevy Chase neighborhood of DC, to the board that decides DC's zoning and rules on many large development projects.
<div class="blog_image_right" style="width: 145px; float: right; font-size: 8pt;"><a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/directory.aspx?EID=237', '')" href="http://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/directory.aspx?EID=237" style="color: black"><img src="http://images.greatergreaterwashington.org/images/201609/081013.jpg" style="border: 0"></a><br>Image from Prince George's County.</div><p style="margin-top: 1em">Shapiro would replace <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.dcoz.dc.gov/zc/zc.shtm', '33476')" href="http://www.dcoz.dc.gov/zc/zc.shtm" style="color: black">Marcie Cohen</a>, a former <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/housingcomplex/2011/06/22/new-zoning-commission-nominee-has-heavy-duty-housing-experience/', '33476')" href="http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/housingcomplex/2011/06/22/new-zoning-commission-nominee-has-heavy-duty-housing-experience/" style="color: black">affordable housing</a> and community development professional. Cohen has been a strong advocate for zoning that allows more overall housing in DC, speaking about the need for more housing <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/23567/zoning-update-retreat-on-housing-and-parking-gets-a-chilly-reception-from-the-dc-zoning-commision/', '33476')" href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/23567/zoning-update-retreat-on-housing-and-parking-gets-a-chilly-reception-from-the-dc-zoning-commision/" style="color: black">many</a> <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/23411/dc-planners-want-to-limit-row-houses-from-becoming-condos/', '33476')" href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/23411/dc-planners-want-to-limit-row-houses-from-becoming-condos/" style="color: black">times</a>.
<p style="margin-top: 1em">Shapiro's day job is head of the <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/1151/Mission-Function', '33476')" href="http://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/1151/Mission-Function" style="color: black">Prince George's County Revenue Authority</a>, an entity which acquires and helps develop land in the county to boost its economy. He used to live in the Prince George's town of Brentwood, where he served on the town council for two years and then the county council for six.
<p style="margin-top: 1em">He helped bring community members, developers, businesses, and others together around a vision for the Route 1 corridor just east of DC, which ultimately led to the <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://mygatewayarts.org/', '33476')" href="http://mygatewayarts.org/" style="color: black">Gateway Arts District</a> spanning four towns (and including Bird Kitchen, the site of our <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/33326/clearly-we-need-to-have-more-happy-hours-in-prince-georges/', '33476')" href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/33326/clearly-we-need-to-have-more-happy-hours-in-prince-georges/" style="color: black">extremely successful recent happy hour</a> with County Executive Rushern Baker).
<p style="margin-top: 1em"><div class="blog_image" style="width:500px; text-align: center; font-size: 8pt;"><a href="/image.cgi?src=201609/270951.jpg&ref=33476" style="color: black"><img src="http://images.greatergreaterwashington.org/images/201609/270951-1.jpg" style="border: 0"></a><br>Left to right: Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker, Chief of Staff Glenda Wilson, Communications Manager Barry Hudson, and Revenue Authority Executive Director Peter Shapiro. Photo by the author.</div>
<p style="margin-top: 1em">Shapiro later moved back to DC where he ran unsuccessfully for DC Council against Vincent Orange four years ago, winning <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/14155/for-dc-council-at-large-peter-shapiro/', '33476')" href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/14155/for-dc-council-at-large-peter-shapiro/" style="color: black">our endorsement</a> but splitting the anti-Orange vote with Sekou Biddle. (Our endorsed candidate <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/30863/for-dc-council-at-large-robert-white/', '33476')" href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/30863/for-dc-council-at-large-robert-white/" style="color: black">Robert White</a> beat Orange this year.)
<p style="margin-top: 1em">He has long been a proponent of better transit and transit-oriented development. Way back in 2001, he <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2001/oct/30/20011030-030600-2264r/', '33476')" href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2001/oct/30/20011030-030600-2264r/" style="color: black">endorsed the Purple Line</a> and supported running it through existing communities with people who need to get to jobs, such as the area he represented.
<p style="margin-top: 1em">He served on a Maryland "Special Task Force for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)" in 2000, chaired the regional Transportation Planning Board in 2003, co-chairs the Urban Land Institute's Regionalism Initiative Council, and is part of a joint ULI Washington and Baltimore TOD Product Council. He is an elected member of his neighborhood's the local Advisory Neighborhood Commission, but says he would resign that seat if confirmed to the Zoning Commission because both are very time-consuming, volunteer jobs.
<p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>Nomination, take two</b>
<p style="margin-top: 1em">Mayor Bowser initially <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtonblade.com/2015/06/10/franco-nominated-for-zoning-commission-post/', '33476')" href="http://www.washingtonblade.com/2015/06/10/franco-nominated-for-zoning-commission-post/" style="color: black">nominated developer David Franco</a> for the seat, but DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson <A href="https://www.washingtonblade.com/2015/09/30/mendelson-blocks-gay-nominee-for-zoning-commission/" style="color: black">refused to hold a hearing</a>.
<p style="margin-top: 1em">Mendelson <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtonblade.com/2015/06/10/franco-nominated-for-zoning-commission-post/', '33476')" href="http://www.washingtonblade.com/2015/06/10/franco-nominated-for-zoning-commission-post/" style="color: black">told the Washington Blade</a> that he's concerned about having developers on the commission. Franco is <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/28312/dc-council-chairman-phil-mendelson-is-blocking-mayor-bowsers-zoning-board-nominee/', '33476')" href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/28312/dc-council-chairman-phil-mendelson-is-blocking-mayor-bowsers-zoning-board-nominee/" style="color: black">very civic-minded</a> and more supportive of affordable housing than most developers, but according to the Blade, Mendelson opposed confirming any developers, period.
<p style="margin-top: 1em">Shapiro does not have the potential conflicts of interest that a developer would, but as someone with long experience with how well-designed development can enhance communities and boost the economy, he would be a valuable member of the Zoning Commission. Mendelson will hold <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.dcregs.dc.gov/Notice/DownLoad.aspx?NoticeID=6254383', '33476')" href="http://www.dcregs.dc.gov/Notice/DownLoad.aspx?NoticeID=6254383" style="color: black">a hearing</a> on Shapiro's nomination at 1 pm on Thursday, November 10.
<p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>What is the Zoning Commission?</b>
<p style="margin-top: 1em">The Zoning Commission is far more powerful than planning boards in other jurisdictions. When DC got home rule, Congress did not want to give the local legislature full authority over land use. Instead, the Zoning Commission has the final say (other than potential court appeals) over zoning and development decisions in DC.
<p style="margin-top: 1em">The DC Council can guide the future direction of growth through <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/31179/is-dc-growing-inclusively-in-2005-it-set-out-to/', '33476')" href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/31179/is-dc-growing-inclusively-in-2005-it-set-out-to/" style="color: black">the Comprehensive Plan</a> and smaller plans, which the Zoning Commission is required to follow. But when it comes to changing zoning rules or approving particular developments, it has no authority; all councilmembers can do is write letters expressing an opinion.
<p style="margin-top: 1em">There are actually two zoning boards in DC, the Board of Zoning Adjustment and the Zoning Commission. Mainly, the BZA handles smaller individual projects; it grants variances and special exceptions to zoning rules for unusual circumstances. The Zoning Commission makes bigger-picture policy, like changing a neighborhood's zoning or a citywide zoning rule. It also reviews Planned Unit Developments, generally big development projects which need more flexibility and also provide more community benefit. The BZA is somewhat more legalistic, while the Zoning Commission focuses more on policy.
<p style="margin-top: 1em">The Zoning Commission has three members nominated by the mayor and confirmed by the council, as well as two federal members, <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/article/13046112/peter-may-i-meet-the-most-powerful-man-shaping-dcs', '33476')" href="http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/article/13046112/peter-may-i-meet-the-most-powerful-man-shaping-dcs" style="color: black">one from the National Park Service</a> and one from the Architect of the Capitol. This makes DC's three appointees even more crucial.
<p style="margin-top: 1em">While the federal representatives serve as part of their jobs, locally-appointed Zoning Commissioners are not paid for their service. Yet, they have to attend two (often long) meetings most weeks and also sit on some meetings of the BZA, which has a seat for a rotating Zoning Commission member.
<p style="margin-top: 1em">This makes it tricky to find someone with experience and knowledge who is not also a developer. The city would be lucky to get Shapiro, with his regional perspective, experience with development, and positive vision for DC.<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/33476/peter-shapiro-is-nominated-for-a-seat-on-the-powerful-dc-zoning-commission/#comments">4 comments</a></p>http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=33476Tue, 25 Oct 2016 11:45:00 EDTGridlock begets gridlockhttp://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/33976/gridlock-begets-gridlock/
by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/amitchell/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Arego Mitchell</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Mayor Bowser says DC "<a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.citylab.com/commute/2016/10/mayor-bowser-on-dc-we-cannot-grow-with-gridlock/505148/', '33976')" href="http://www.citylab.com/commute/2016/10/mayor-bowser-on-dc-we-cannot-grow-with-gridlock/505148/" style="color: black">cannot grow with gridlock</a>." DC needs a better Metro system to avoid traffic congestion, but the system struggles to get the funding it needs because it relies on multiple legislatures for decision making. (CityLab)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/33976/gridlock-begets-gridlock/#comments">Comment</a></p>http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=33976Tue, 25 Oct 2016 09:10:00 EDTBowser wants answers from Metrohttp://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/33933/bowser-wants-answers-from-metro/
by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/joestenhouse/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Joe Stenhouse</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Mayor Bowser pushed Metro General Manager Wiedefeld to clearly <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dr-gridlock/wp/2016/10/20/d-c-mayor-bowser-to-metro-no-articulation-of-a-need-for-late-night-service-cuts/', '33933')" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dr-gridlock/wp/2016/10/20/d-c-mayor-bowser-to-metro-no-articulation-of-a-need-for-late-night-service-cuts/" style="color: black">explain why late-night service must go permanently</a> in a letter sent Wednesday. She says the transit agency has failed to provide a plan or demonstrate the need to close the entire system. (Post)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/33933/bowser-wants-answers-from-metro/#comments">Comment</a></p>http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=33933Thu, 20 Oct 2016 09:15:00 EDTTo live and die in DChttp://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/33912/to-live-and-die-in-dc/
by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/ncacozza/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Nicole Cacozza</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Most of the DC Council supports a bill that would let doctors <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-council-advances-right-to-die-legislation-will-debate-and-vote-next-month/2016/10/18/cdec36f2-953f-11e6-bb29-bf2701dbe0a3_story.html', '33912')" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-council-advances-right-to-die-legislation-will-debate-and-vote-next-month/2016/10/18/cdec36f2-953f-11e6-bb29-bf2701dbe0a3_story.html" style="color: black">provide life-ending drugs to terminally-ill patients</a>, but even if it approves it, it's unclear whether Mayor Bowser will sign it or if Congress will veto it. (Post)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/33912/to-live-and-die-in-dc/#comments">Comment</a></p>http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=33912Wed, 19 Oct 2016 09:00:00 EDTNot enough for affordable housinghttp://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/33890/not-enough-for-affordable-housing/
by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/syates/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Steven Yates</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">While Mayor Bowser plans on spending $100 million a year to preserve affordable housing, <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://wamu.org/news/16/10/13/bowser_says_100_million_for_affordable_housing_is_historic_but_is_it_enough', '33890')" href="http://wamu.org/news/16/10/13/bowser_says_100_million_for_affordable_housing_is_historic_but_is_it_enough" style="color: black">it's probably not enough</a> as solving the problem will likely cost billions of dollars. (WAMU)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/33890/not-enough-for-affordable-housing/#comments">Comment</a></p>http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=33890Mon, 17 Oct 2016 09:00:00 EDTGovernors balk at paying for better transportationhttp://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/33869/governors-balk-at-paying-for-better-transportation/
by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/jpierce/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Joanne Pierce</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">DC Mayor Bowser supports a <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://wtop.com/sprawl-crawl/2016/10/regions-leaders-discuss-possible-sales-tax-fund-metro/', '33869')" href="http://wtop.com/sprawl-crawl/2016/10/regions-leaders-discuss-possible-sales-tax-fund-metro/" style="color: black">1-cent regional sales tax</a> to fund Metro, but Governors McAuliffe and Hogan say Metro needs to improve before they'll consider it. (WTOP) ... The governors also argued over who should <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.bethesdamagazine.com/Bethesda-Beat/Web-2016/Hogan-McAuliffe-Debate-New-Potomac-River-Crossing/', '33869')" href="http://www.bethesdamagazine.com/Bethesda-Beat/Web-2016/Hogan-McAuliffe-Debate-New-Potomac-River-Crossing/" style="color: black">pay for a new Potomac River crossing</a>. (BethesdaBeat)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/33869/governors-balk-at-paying-for-better-transportation/#comments">Comment</a></p>http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=33869Fri, 14 Oct 2016 09:21:00 EDTSeed moneyhttp://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/33843/seed-money/
by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/ncacozza/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Nicole Cacozza</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Edgewood's <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/27478/rhode-island-ave-could-get-a-huge-new-housing-complex-will-it-make-the-area-more-walkable/', '33843')" href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/27478/rhode-island-ave-could-get-a-huge-new-housing-complex-will-it-make-the-area-more-walkable/" style="color: black">Rhode Island Center</a> could mean 1,500 new units (with <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/33244/dcs-edgewood-neighborhood-is-set-to-get-more-affordable-housing-and-connections-to-the-met-branch-/', '33843')" href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/33244/dcs-edgewood-neighborhood-is-set-to-get-more-affordable-housing-and-connections-to-the-met-branch-/" style="color: black">over 100</a> being part of DC's affordable housing program) plus new retail. Mayor Bowser wants to <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2016/10/11/d-c-steps-in-to-subsidize-mrps-big-dig-in-edgewood.html', '33843')" href="http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2016/10/11/d-c-steps-in-to-subsidize-mrps-big-dig-in-edgewood.html" style="color: black">use a special tax program</a> to help finance the project. (BizJournal)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/33843/seed-money/#comments">Comment</a></p>http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=33843Wed, 12 Oct 2016 09:01:00 EDTAnd...http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/33740/and/
by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/klafferty/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Kelli Raboy</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">The National Gallery's East Building is <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://observer.com/2016/09/inside-the-new-national-gallery/', '33740')" href="http://observer.com/2016/09/inside-the-new-national-gallery/" style="color: black">reopening to the public</a> after three years of renovations. (Observer) ... A petition asks Mayor Bowser to keep pushing forward with the <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.mdavedc.org/signon', '33740')" href="http://www.mdavedc.org/signon" style="color: black">Maryland Avenue NE</a> safety project. ... How and why have urban demographics shifted to <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.citylab.com/housing/2016/09/downsides-of-the-back-to-the-city-movement/501476/?utm_source=SFFB', '33740')" href="http://www.citylab.com/housing/2016/09/downsides-of-the-back-to-the-city-movement/501476/?utm_source=SFFB" style="color: black">change US downtowns</a> over the past 15 years? (CityLab)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/33740/and/#comments">Comment</a></p>http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=33740Fri, 30 Sep 2016 09:10:00 EDTHomers, not rides homehttp://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/33706/homers-not-rides-home/
by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/ncacozza/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Nicole Cacozza</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">DC Mayor Bowser, and Councilmember Jack Evans want Metro to offer <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Metro-District-Clash-Over-Rail-Closing-Time-During-Nats-Playoffs-395005931.html', '33706')" href="http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Metro-District-Clash-Over-Rail-Closing-Time-During-Nats-Playoffs-395005931.html" style="color: black">late night service</a> to get Nationals fans home from playoff games. Metro has previously refused to make exceptions for games or events. (NBC4)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/33706/homers-not-rides-home/#comments">Comment</a></p>http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=33706Wed, 28 Sep 2016 08:41:00 EDT$100M for affordable housinghttp://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/33584/100m-for-affordable-housing/
by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/mgontarchick/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Matt Gontarchick</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">DC Mayor Muriel Bowser is addressing the city's affordable housing crisis by <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/digger/wp/2016/09/16/inside-mayor-bowsers-effort-to-make-super-expensive-d-c-housing-affordable-again/', '33584')" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/digger/wp/2016/09/16/inside-mayor-bowsers-effort-to-make-super-expensive-d-c-housing-affordable-again/" style="color: black">adding $100 million annually</a> to the Housing Protection Trust Fund. Some argue that the investment isn't enough, and that her administration should focus more on inclusionary zoning. (Post)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/33584/100m-for-affordable-housing/#comments">Comment</a></p>http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=33584Mon, 19 Sep 2016 08:30:00 EDTMetro won’t open early for DC's biggest race of the yearhttp://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/33383/metro-wont-open-early-for-dcs-biggest-race-of-the-year/
by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/erussell/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Edward Russell</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Big marathons lean heavily on transit, whether it's local rail systems or networks of shuttle buses, to get thousands of participants to their start lines. However, due to SafeTrack, Metro will not be an option for the more than 30,000 runners in the Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) and its associated races this October for the first time in years.
<p style="margin-top: 1em"><div class="blog_image" style="width:500px; text-align: center; font-size: 8pt;"><a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('https://www.flickr.com/photos/perspective/15678584335/', '33383')" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/perspective/15678584335/" style="color: black"><img src="http://images.greatergreaterwashington.org/images/201608/302145.jpg" style="border: 0"></a><br>Photo by Elvert Barnes on Flickr.</div>
<p style="margin-top: 1em">
<p style="margin-top: 1em">Metro has historically opened <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/news/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=5781', '33383')" href="http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/news/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=5781" style="color: black">two hours early</a>, at 5:00 am, for the race. This allows runners to get to the start line near Arlington Cemetery from all points in the system well ahead of the 7:55 am start.
<p style="margin-top: 1em">On average, <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('https://twitter.com/AdamTuss/status/771030454170427393', '33383')" href="https://twitter.com/AdamTuss/status/771030454170427393" style="color: black">24,000 runners use Metro</a> to get the race, according to the MCM's organizers.
<p style="margin-top: 1em">This year, however, Metro <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/metros-safetrack-program-prompts-marine-corps-marathon-changes/2016/08/31/60ceaf10-6f8c-11e6-8533-6b0b0ded0253_story.html', '33383')" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/metros-safetrack-program-prompts-marine-corps-marathon-changes/2016/08/31/60ceaf10-6f8c-11e6-8533-6b0b0ded0253_story.html" style="color: black">will open at its usual Sunday time</a> of 7:00 am on race day, October 30th. This is not early enough for most runners to take Metro to what was the <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.runningusa.org/marathon-report-2016?returnTo=main', '33383')" href="http://www.runningusa.org/marathon-report-2016?returnTo=main" style="color: black">fourth largest marathon in the USA</a> in 2015.
<p style="margin-top: 1em">Instead, the organizers will offer parking in Crystal City and Pentagon City with runner-only shuttle buses to the starting line. Runners will also be able to begin the race for up to an hour after the 7:55 am start. Arlington Transit will <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('https://www.arlnow.com/2016/08/31/arlington-to-play-bigger-role-in-this-years-marine-corps-marathon-due-to-metro-changes/', '33383')" href="https://www.arlnow.com/2016/08/31/arlington-to-play-bigger-role-in-this-years-marine-corps-marathon-due-to-metro-changes/" style="color: black">run extra buses</a> for runners as well.
<p style="margin-top: 1em">The race has also changed its course slightly, adding sections in Arlington and shortening ones in DC. This was necessary because some road closures had been planned far in advance and the times couldn't be shifted; this is also why the organizers can't just delay the start.
<p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>Metro says no exceptions</b>
<p style="margin-top: 1em">WMATA announced a blanket one-year moratorium on early openings and late closings as part of its <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.wmata.com/Images/Mrel/MF_Uploads/SafeTrack_Public.pdf', '33383')" href="http://www.wmata.com/Images/Mrel/MF_Uploads/SafeTrack_Public.pdf" style="color: black">SafeTrack plan this May</a>. The moratorium has stood since then for any event, from concerts to Nationals games and now the MCM.
<p style="margin-top: 1em">Metro has not wavered on the moratorium, even under pressure from local pols including <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dr-gridlock/wp/2016/06/02/metro-rebuffs-d-c-mayor-bowsers-request-for-safetrack-changes-on-late-night-service-and-special-events/', '33383')" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dr-gridlock/wp/2016/06/02/metro-rebuffs-d-c-mayor-bowsers-request-for-safetrack-changes-on-late-night-service-and-special-events/" style="color: black">DC mayor Muriel Bowser</a>.
<p style="margin-top: 1em">To date, WMATA has only considered adding to the time it needs for maintenance work, seeking board approval in July to <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/33007/metro-proposes-ending-late-night-service-permanently-thats-a-terrible-idea/', '33383')" href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/33007/metro-proposes-ending-late-night-service-permanently-thats-a-terrible-idea/" style="color: black">make a "temporary" suspension of late night service permanent</a>.
<p style="margin-top: 1em"><div class="blog_image" style="width:500px; text-align: center; font-size: 8pt;"><a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('https://www.flickr.com/photos/perspective/432666036/', '33383')" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/perspective/432666036/" style="color: black"><img src="http://images.greatergreaterwashington.org/images/201609/011205.jpg" style="border: 0"></a><br>Photo by Elvert Barnes on Flickr.</div>
<p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>Opinions are mixed on Metro's decision</b>
<p style="margin-top: 1em">The majority of participants in large marathons take transit to start lines, with races <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('https://www.chicagomarathon.com/participant-information/hotels-travel-parking/#transportation', '33383')" href="https://www.chicagomarathon.com/participant-information/hotels-travel-parking/#transportation" style="color: black">all</a> <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.bmw-berlin-marathon.com/en/race-day/start.html', '33383')" href="http://www.bmw-berlin-marathon.com/en/race-day/start.html" style="color: black">over</a> <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://help.tcsnycmarathon.org/customer/en/portal/topics/779327-transportation/articles', '33383')" href="http://help.tcsnycmarathon.org/customer/en/portal/topics/779327-transportation/articles" style="color: black">the</a> <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.sydneyrunningfestival.com.au/traffic-transport', '33383')" href="http://www.sydneyrunningfestival.com.au/traffic-transport" style="color: black">world</a> encouraging runners to rides trains or buses. The benefit of existing transit networks is just that: the network. With one in place, race organizers do not need to create a network of shuttle buses that can collect runners from the various corners of a metro area.
<p style="margin-top: 1em">While Metro does need to accomplish the SafeTrack repairs and the reduce its backlog of deferred maintenance, not opening early for the MCM, when the vast majority of runners ride the train, is far more detrimental to them than not staying open late for, say, a Nationals game, when <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('https://planitmetro.com/2014/12/22/metrorail-brought-one-third-of-fans-to-nationals-park-in-2014/', '33383')" href="https://planitmetro.com/2014/12/22/metrorail-brought-one-third-of-fans-to-nationals-park-in-2014/" style="color: black">on average only 11,000 attendees</a> ride Metro.
<p style="margin-top: 1em">Metro could be more transparent about what it needs to accomplish when it refuses to adjust its hours slightly for large events. In the case of the MCM, what work will be done during those two hours that cannot be done another time? Knowing this would help people understand if Metro really needs the time or just wants to stick to one standard for simplicity's sake.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-lang="en"><i><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Extra trains added to Metro throughout the day, but MCM officials asking runners to minimize reliance on Metro that day (insert joke here)</p>&mdash;<wbr>Adam Tuss (@AdamTuss) <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('https://twitter.com/AdamTuss/status/771031921157632000', '33383')" href="https://twitter.com/AdamTuss/status/771031921157632000" style="color: black">August 31, 2016</a></i></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>Elizabeth Whitton</b> feels Metro isn't being unreasonable:<blockquote><i>"I've organized large scale athletic events in the past and take an opposite view of the issue. For these large scale events (across the country, not just DC), the usual protocol is for the event organizers to request additional public services (transit, port-a-potties, police, etc) and then work out agreements with the necessary government entities. Most local governments charge fees in exchange for additional services.
<p style="margin-top: 1em">I read this news as: Metro does not feel it is mutually beneficial to provide additional rail service to the MCM start due to its on-going Safetrack program.
<p style="margin-top: 1em">Realistically, the marathon could change its start time. Lots of reasons why this is not practical, though. For one, the race has a permit to use the 14th Street Bridge for a specific time of day. The logistics of changing this permit would be a nightmare.
<p style="margin-top: 1em">Bottom line: Metro should not receive a lot of the blame for this. It is the responsibility of the race organizers to ensure participants can access the start line."</i></blockquote>Metro certainly is not entirely to blame in this situation. The MCM organizers have already made some lousy decisions for this year's race, for example, <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/city-desk/blog/13070047/marine-corps-marathons-expo-will-move-to-national-harbor-in-2016', '33383')" href="http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/city-desk/blog/13070047/marine-corps-marathons-expo-will-move-to-national-harbor-in-2016" style="color: black">moving the pre-race expo</a>, where the majority of participants go to pick up their bibs and race packets, to the transit-desert of National Harbor from the transit-rich Washington Convention Center.
<p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>Gray Kimbrough</b> thinks that some intermediate threshold is warranted.<blockquote><i>"I understand that Metro can't open early or stay open late for every event. They absolutely need to have set thresholds so that it's not up in the air.
<p style="margin-top: 1em">It seems like now is as good a time as any to come up with reasonable thresholds. Or is Metro's stand really going to be that SafeTrack can never be delayed or altered for any events? Will they continue to close down lines through the Cherry Blossom Festival, for example? Are they not going to alter anything for the next inauguration either?"</i></blockquote><b>Canaan Merchant</b> thinks the situation presents some opportunities for Metro to consider:<blockquote><i>"Metro could charge more money to organizations who want to hold an early or late event. Or Metro could see if the work that they're planning on even affects downtown areas; if not, then the system could maybe open in some parts and not the others.
<p style="margin-top: 1em">In general, as much as Metro needs to get its maintenance straight, they need to think long and hard about turning away easy ridership boosts like this one as well."</i></blockquote>What do you think?<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/33383/metro-wont-open-early-for-dcs-biggest-race-of-the-year/#comments">39 comments</a></p>http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=33383Thu, 01 Sep 2016 12:09:00 EDTYou promised affordable housinghttp://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/33362/you-promised-affordable-housing/
by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/kganthony/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Kayla Gail Anthony</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em"><a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/24253/dc-sells-valuable-land-but-loses-interest-in-using-it-to-create-affordable-housing/', '33362')" href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/24253/dc-sells-valuable-land-but-loses-interest-in-using-it-to-create-affordable-housing/" style="color: black">In 2014</a>, DC controversially approved a development in Mount Vernon Triangle with its required affordable housing in Anacostia. After historic preservation limited the Anacostia building's size, Developer Don Peebles asked if he could build fewer affordable units, but <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/digger/wp/2016/08/26/d-c-mayor-bowser-to-don-peebles-give-me-my-affordable-housing/?postshare=4991472211447253&tid=ss_tw', '33362')" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/digger/wp/2016/08/26/d-c-mayor-bowser-to-don-peebles-give-me-my-affordable-housing/?postshare=4991472211447253&tid=ss_tw" style="color: black">Mayor Bowser said no</a>. (Post)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/33362/you-promised-affordable-housing/#comments">Comment</a></p>http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=33362Mon, 29 Aug 2016 08:58:00 EDTConstruction contract triggers resignationshttp://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/33346/construction-contract-leads-to-city-resignations/
by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/ncacozza/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Nicole Cacozza</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">DC Department of General Services chief Christopher Weaver <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://wamu.org/news/16/08/25/turmoil_at_dc_agency_linked_to_contract_disputes_with_top_campaign_donors', '33346')" href="http://wamu.org/news/16/08/25/turmoil_at_dc_agency_linked_to_contract_disputes_with_top_campaign_donors" style="color: black">abruptly resigned</a> after the city administrator asked him to fire two staffers who award contracts. The move came right after a Bowser campaign donor lost two big construction bids. (WAMU)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/33346/construction-contract-leads-to-city-resignations/#comments">Comment</a></p>http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=33346Fri, 26 Aug 2016 09:05:00 EDTRegulating DCRAhttp://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/33267/regulating-dcra/
by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/klafferty/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Kelli Raboy</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">DCRA, the DC agency that issues construction permits, is under scrutiny as <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://wamu.org/news/16/08/16/mayor_bowser_kicks_off_week_long_review_of_dc_regulatory_agency', '33267')" href="http://wamu.org/news/16/08/16/mayor_bowser_kicks_off_week_long_review_of_dc_regulatory_agency" style="color: black">Mayor Bowser undertakes a week-long review</a> of the agency's operations. DCRA has had ongoing problems with poor management and corruption. (WAMU)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/33267/regulating-dcra/#comments">Comment</a></p>http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=33267Thu, 18 Aug 2016 08:55:00 EDTSafeTrack set in stonehttp://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/31023/safetrack-set-in-stone/
by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/bcasey/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Brendan Casey</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Mayor Bowser asked Metro to <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dr-gridlock/wp/2016/06/02/metro-rebuffs-d-c-mayor-bowsers-request-for-safetrack-changes-on-late-night-service-and-special-events/', '31023')" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dr-gridlock/wp/2016/06/02/metro-rebuffs-d-c-mayor-bowsers-request-for-safetrack-changes-on-late-night-service-and-special-events/" style="color: black">modify the SafeTrack plan</a> to limit late-night service cuts and to make exceptions for 11 special events. But Metro said no. (Post)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/31023/safetrack-set-in-stone/#comments">Comment</a></p>http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=31023Fri, 03 Jun 2016 08:30:00 EDTUpper Northwest hits peak NIMBY about a homeless shelterhttp://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/30968/upper-northwest-hits-peak-nimby-about-a-homeless-shelter/
by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Fifty short-term apartments for homeless residents are likely coming to Idaho Avenue in upper Northwest DC. At a community meeting last night, some residents showed just how much they think the poorest people in DC need to stay far away from their exclusive enclaves.
<p style="margin-top: 1em"><div class="blog_image" style="width:500px; text-align: center; font-size: 8pt;"><a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('https://twitter.com/hgil/status/735967126079438848', '30968')" href="https://twitter.com/hgil/status/735967126079438848" style="color: black"><img src="http://images.greatergreaterwashington.org/images/201605/shelter1.jpg" style="border: 0"></a></div><div class="blog_image" style="width:500px; text-align: center; font-size: 8pt;"><a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('https://twitter.com/hgil/status/735967126079438848', '30968')" href="https://twitter.com/hgil/status/735967126079438848" style="color: black"><img src="http://images.greatergreaterwashington.org/images/201605/shelter2.jpg" style="border: 0"></a></div>
<p style="margin-top: 1em">Helder Gil posted this flyer on Twitter, which people anonymously circulated at a community meeting Thursday night on a proposed homeless shelter next to the police station on Idaho Avenue, between Cleveland Park and Cathedral Heights.
<p style="margin-top: 1em">It includes the astoundingly offensive phrase, "Homeless lives matter; the lives of community homeowners matter too."
<p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>What's being proposed</b>
<p style="margin-top: 1em">Mayor Muriel Bowser set a very laudable goal of spreading out homeless shelters <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/29713/muriel-bowser-announces-eight-sites-for-homeless-shelters/', '30968')" href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/29713/muriel-bowser-announces-eight-sites-for-homeless-shelters/" style="color: black">across all eight wards</a> of DC. It's not best for homeless residents to all be concentrated in one small area, and puts the burden entirely on one neighborhood.
<p style="margin-top: 1em">Most people expected people in some wealthy neighborhoods to fight the idea of any homeless people coming to their communities. But the flaws in how the Bowser administration executed on this plan, with seemingly too-high payments to property owners, some of whom were campaign donors, <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/30183/arguments-against-the-plan-for-new-homeless-shelters-look-a-lot-like-the-ones-against-any-other-/', '30968')" href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/30183/arguments-against-the-plan-for-new-homeless-shelters-look-a-lot-like-the-ones-against-any-other-/" style="color: black">overshadowed any such debate</a>.
<p style="margin-top: 1em">Recently, the DC Council <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/30856/dcs-homeless-shelter-plan-just-got-a-makeover/', '30968')" href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/30856/dcs-homeless-shelter-plan-just-got-a-makeover/" style="color: black">revised the plan</a> to place all shelters on public property or land the District could acquire. In Ward 3, west of Rock Creek Park, the new site is the parking lot of the police station on Idaho Avenue. And now that the legitimate problems with the plan are past, some are indeed attacking the very idea that upper Northwest has to play any part in solving the need for homeless housing.
<p style="margin-top: 1em">Many of the usual arguments against any project have come out in full force: the <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('https://twitter.com/hgil/status/735980951474425856', '30968')" href="https://twitter.com/hgil/status/735980951474425856" style="color: black">zoning doesn't match</a>; our <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('https://twitter.com/hgil/status/735989896389767169', '30968')" href="https://twitter.com/hgil/status/735989896389767169" style="color: black">schools can't afford it</a>; what about <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('https://twitter.com/hgil/status/735995172266356736', '30968')" href="https://twitter.com/hgil/status/735995172266356736" style="color: black">neighborhood security</a>; this will add to traffic and <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('https://twitter.com/hgil/status/735986284691378176', '30968')" href="https://twitter.com/hgil/status/735986284691378176" style="color: black">harm my property values</a>.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-lang="en"><i><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Greetings from Ward 3 meeting on DC Council&#39;s plan to put a homeless shelter in police station parking lot. <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('https://t.co/i0IsUQbnf8', '30968')" href="https://t.co/i0IsUQbnf8" style="color: black">pic.twitter.com/i0IsUQbnf8</a></p>&mdash;<wbr>Helder Gil (@hgil) <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('https://twitter.com/hgil/status/735965291407114241', '30968')" href="https://twitter.com/hgil/status/735965291407114241" style="color: black">May 26, 2016</a></i></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>Misconceptions abound</b>
<p style="margin-top: 1em">The anonymous flyer says, "We fundamentally oppose the Mayor's plan of equal distribution of homeless population&mdash;<wbr>to build a shelter in each ward regardless of land availability and economic soundness." (The land seems to be quite available, actually, and economically, DC has to spend nothing to buy a parking lot it already owns.)
<p style="margin-top: 1em">The letter, and people at the meeting, alleged that a shelter would harm property values. DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson disputed that:<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><i><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Q: (Very long question about cost)<br>Mendo: There&#39;s no evidence of impact on reduced prop values from a well-run shelter.<br>&lt;audience groans&gt;</p>&mdash;<wbr>Helder Gil (@hgil) <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('https://twitter.com/hgil/status/735986284691378176', '30968')" href="https://twitter.com/hgil/status/735986284691378176" style="color: black">May 27, 2016</a></i></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p style="margin-top: 1em">"There are plenty [of] empty public buildings in the city which can be renovated and used as shelters," the letter also says. First off, not really; second, this really is pretty much empty public land. What they mean is, "there are plenty of public buildings in someone else's neighborhood."
<p style="margin-top: 1em">Talking about how the statements are wrong on their face is beside the point. The statements are morally wrong. Many people of DC's fancier neighborhoods, even ones who identify as Democrats ("<a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.citylab.com/politics/2015/07/how-fair-housing-will-turn-liberal-cities-conservative/398642/', '30968')" href="http://www.citylab.com/politics/2015/07/how-fair-housing-will-turn-liberal-cities-conservative/398642/" style="color: black">liberal in the streets, NIMBY in the sheets</a>") believe all of the city's need for housing, whether for homeless residents, the working poor, young college grads, or anyone else, should be solved somewhere else where "there's plenty of empty land."
<p style="margin-top: 1em">Never mind that all of those other neighborhoods "over there" have people in them too, people who might be okay with some shelters or halfway housing or other social services but understandably don't want it all. Why should one part of the city get an opt out just because it's the richest part?<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-lang="en"><i><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Q: Why this location &amp; not another city-owned property?<br>Cheh: We all have social responsibility &amp; Ward 3 needs to step up as well.</p>&mdash;<wbr>Helder Gil (@hgil) <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('https://twitter.com/hgil/status/735982537638547457', '30968')" href="https://twitter.com/hgil/status/735982537638547457" style="color: black">May 26, 2016</a></i></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p style="margin-top: 1em"><!--
<br>
While officials assured nervous residents that this would be temporary housing and the people in the shelters would not do things like enroll in the local public school (John Eaton Elementary) in large numbers, actually integrating some homeless or formerly homeless people into the Cleveland Park/Cathedral Heights area would be a good idea.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-lang="en"><i><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Zeilinger: Based on statistics, only single-digit number of shelter kids would enroll at Eaton.</p>&mdash;<wbr>Helder Gil (@hgil) <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('https://twitter.com/hgil/status/735990940763054080', '30968')" href="https://twitter.com/hgil/status/735990940763054080" style="color: black">May 27, 2016</a></i></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p style="margin-top: 1em">As researchers Raj Chetty and Eric Chyn <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/27/upshot/growing-up-in-a-bad-neighborhood-does-more-harm-than-we-thought.html?_r=1/', '30968')" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/27/upshot/growing-up-in-a-bad-neighborhood-does-more-harm-than-we-thought.html?_r=1/" style="color: black">discoveredM.a<, low-income children who grow up in mixed-income neighborhoods make 16% more over their lives than those in entirely low-income areas.
<p style="margin-top: 1em">People were complaining because Eaton is full and needs renovation (the answer, of course, being to renovate and expand it), but if a school has a small number of very low-income students -->
<p style="margin-top: 1em">Not all residents of the area are hostile to the less fortunate:<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-lang="en"><i><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Q: How can we help w/tutoring and welcoming new neighbors?<br>Cheh: Thank you.</p>&mdash;<wbr>Helder Gil (@hgil) <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('https://twitter.com/hgil/status/735988796534235136', '30968')" href="https://twitter.com/hgil/status/735988796534235136" style="color: black">May 27, 2016</a></i></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p style="margin-top: 1em">Yes, to whoever said that, thank you.<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/30968/upper-northwest-hits-peak-nimby-about-a-homeless-shelter/#comments">155 comments</a></p>http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=30968Fri, 27 May 2016 11:35:00 EDTStood up by Walmart, againhttp://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/30913/stood-up-by-walmart-again/
by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/amitchell/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Arego Mitchell</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Mayor Bowser flew to Las Vegas for a shopping center convention so that she could <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/digger/wp/2016/05/23/mayor-bowser-wont-get-a-chance-to-confront-walmart-at-retail-conference/', '30913')" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/digger/wp/2016/05/23/mayor-bowser-wont-get-a-chance-to-confront-walmart-at-retail-conference/" style="color: black">confront Walmart executives about backing out of two stores</a> in low-income neighborhoods. But the company's real estate representatives aren't going to the convention this year. (Post)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/30913/stood-up-by-walmart-again/#comments">Comment</a></p>http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=30913Tue, 24 May 2016 09:00:00 EDTDC's homeless shelter plan just got a makeoverhttp://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/30856/dcs-homeless-shelter-plan-just-got-a-makeover/
by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/klafferty/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Kelli Raboy</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">In February, Mayor Bowser <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/29713/muriel-bowser-announces-eight-sites-for-homeless-shelters/', '30856')" href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/29713/muriel-bowser-announces-eight-sites-for-homeless-shelters/" style="color: black">put forth a plan</a> to replace DC General with seven smaller family shelters around the District. The DC Council just made some key changes: all of the sites will now be city-owned rather than leased, and a few will be in different locations than first planned.
<p style="margin-top: 1em"><div class="blog_image" style="width:500px; text-align: center; font-size: 8pt;"><a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('https://www.flickr.com/photos/jb912/14260448064/', '30856')" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jb912/14260448064/" style="color: black"><img src="http://images.greatergreaterwashington.org/images/201605/181032.jpg" style="border: 0"></a><br>Photo by Jeffrey on Flickr.</div>
<p style="margin-top: 1em">After Mayor Bowser released her plan, many raised concerns about its <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/real-estate-decisions-imperil-dc-mayors-ambitious-plan-for-homeless-families/2016/04/17/6bb6291c-00c4-11e6-b823-707c79ce3504_story.html', '30856')" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/real-estate-decisions-imperil-dc-mayors-ambitious-plan-for-homeless-families/2016/04/17/6bb6291c-00c4-11e6-b823-707c79ce3504_story.html" style="color: black">expensive leasing agreements</a> with private developers and the <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/30183/arguments-against-the-plan-for-new-homeless-shelters-look-a-lot-like-the-ones-against-any-other-/', '30856')" href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/30183/arguments-against-the-plan-for-new-homeless-shelters-look-a-lot-like-the-ones-against-any-other-/" style="color: black">suitability of some of the proposed sites</a>. Yesterday, the DC Council unanimously approved a revised plan that targets those concerns. The changes are expected to save DC $165 million. Here they are:
<p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>The shelter locations in Wards 3, 5, and 6 will change</b>
<p style="margin-top: 1em">Three sites, in Wards 3, 5, and 6, will relocate to city-owned land.
<p style="margin-top: 1em"><div class="blog_image" style="width:410px; text-align: center; font-size: 8pt;"><a href="/image.cgi?src=201605/172202.png&ref=30856" style="color: black"><img src="http://images.greatergreaterwashington.org/images/201605/172202-1.png" style="border: 0"></a></div>
<p style="margin-top: 1em">Many criticized the original sites: the Ward 5 location, for example, was <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://wamu.org/news/16/04/05/on_closing_dc_general_homeless_shelter_a_tug_of_war_over_terms_and_timelines', '30856')" href="http://wamu.org/news/16/04/05/on_closing_dc_general_homeless_shelter_a_tug_of_war_over_terms_and_timelines" style="color: black">too close to a bus depot with bad air quality</a> as well as a strip club, and the Ward 6 location was <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/blind-whino-and-new-dc-homeless-shelter-an-unholy-match-neighbors-say/2016/05/15/0362bb10-114e-11e6-81b4-581a5c4c42df_story.html', '30856')" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/blind-whino-and-new-dc-homeless-shelter-an-unholy-match-neighbors-say/2016/05/15/0362bb10-114e-11e6-81b4-581a5c4c42df_story.html" style="color: black">too close to a party venue</a>.
<p style="margin-top: 1em">All three locations would have required zoning variances or exceptions to become shelter sites, but that isn't the case with the new sites.
<p style="margin-top: 1em">Ward 3 Councilmember Mary Cheh and Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen both expressed support for the new sites. Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, who previously opposed the shelter plan, now supports a shelter at either of the two proposed sites for Ward 5. Councilmember Yvette Alexander, however, said she is worried that the changes to the locations will delay the closing of DC General.
<p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>The District plans to purchase land for sites in Wards 1 and 4</b>
<p style="margin-top: 1em">DC will work with property owners to purchase two of the proposed sites, in Wards 1 and 4. If that doesn't work, DC will acquire the properties through eminent domain.
<p style="margin-top: 1em">To fund the purchases, the new plan is to use capital funding originally set aside for the renovation of Ward 4's Coolidge Senior High School. Ward 4 Councilmember Brandon Todd said using the school renovation funds places an unfair burden on Ward 4 residents. But Councilmember David Grosso, who is also the Education Committee chair, assured him that the school renovations would still happen on schedule; since the renovations are still in the planning stage, the school wouldn't have been able to use the funding this year anyway.
<p style="margin-top: 1em">Ward 1 Councilmember Brianne Nadeau added an amendment to the new plan that ensures the property owners of the Ward 1 site pay any back taxes they may owe to DC before the District purchases the property.
<p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>Mayor Bowser and Phil Mendelson aren't on the same page</b>
<p style="margin-top: 1em">Ward 8 Councilmember LaRuby May is worried that the new plan could overburden Ward 8 with more shelter units than other wards. She proposed an amendment that clarified the maximum number of units allowed at each site, but it failed after Council Chairman Phil Mendelson said he felt the issue could be worked out among the council before the next vote without an amendment.
<p style="margin-top: 1em">While many councilmembers praised Mayor Bowser for her initiative and courage on the original shelter plan, Council Chairman Mendelson accused the mayor's office of "obfuscation and misinformation" and a lack of collaboration with the council during this process. Later in the day, Mayor Bowser made it clear that her office and the council are still very far apart on the plan.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-lang="en"><i><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('https://twitter.com/MayorBowser', '30856')" href="https://twitter.com/MayorBowser" style="color: black">@MayorBowser</a> just yelled at <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('https://twitter.com/ChmnMendelson', '30856')" href="https://twitter.com/ChmnMendelson" style="color: black">@ChmnMendelson</a> in Wilson Bldg hallway: &quot;You&#39;re a f**cking liar! You know it can&#39;t close in [2018]!&quot; (On DC Gen)</p>&mdash;<wbr>Martin Austermuhle (@maustermuhle) <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('https://twitter.com/maustermuhle/status/732627710791585792', '30856')" href="https://twitter.com/maustermuhle/status/732627710791585792" style="color: black">May 17, 2016</a></i></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>What happens next?</b>
<p style="margin-top: 1em">"We should all be getting ready to go to happy hour, because we got it done!," said Councilmember Vincent Orange. Not so fast, though. There are still a few more steps before this bill becomes a law.
<p style="margin-top: 1em">The DC Council will hold another reading of the bill on May 31. If the council approves the bill then, it goes to the mayor for approval. If she vetoes it, nine councilmembers must support the bill for it to become law. It's possible that a few of the councilmembers with misgivings, many of whom are facing tough reelections, could be swayed by lobbying by Mayor Bowser or her allies to vote against the bill.<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/30856/dcs-homeless-shelter-plan-just-got-a-makeover/#comments">46 comments</a></p>http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=30856Wed, 18 May 2016 10:38:00 EDT